Igniter for internal-combustion engines and analogous purposes.



} H. W. AYLWARD. IGNITER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES AND ANALOGOUS PURPOSES. APPLICATION FILED-APR.1,1907.

982,343. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

i" 4 jgerntpr 2 A tmrneys .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. AYLWARD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IGNITER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION EN GINES AND ANAIZOGOUS PURPOSES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY V. AYLwAnD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Igniters for Internal-Combustion Engines and Analogous Purposes ,of which the following is a The object 'I have in view is the production of a device for periodically producing a spark which may be used for various purposes, ,but particularly for exploding the charge in an internal combustion engine.

The particular object which I have in view is to'simplify the connection between the moving part of the device and the prime mover, and to vary the time of sparking in relation to the movement of the prime mover.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of my invention, and in Which-- Figure l is a plan view of my device applied to a two-cylinder internal combustion engine, Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line a-a of Fig.3, Fig. 3 is a section onthe line b-?), Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a section on the line co, ofFig. 2, Fig. 5 is a View of a detail, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the device applied-to a make and break igniter.

In all ofv the views like parts are designated by the same reference characters.

The invention comprises means for producing a magnetic field, a coil surrounding a portion of such field, and means for peri: odically breaking the magnetic field and thereby setting up an electromotive force in the coil and through an electric circuit in series with the coil, suchcircuit including an air gap across which the spark is pro-' duce'd. The magnetic field is made by means of the magnets 1., 1, four being shown for the purpose of illustration, a fixed corepiece 2 and a movable core-piece 3. The fixed core-piece and magnets are connected to a frame which includes side members 4 and 5. These side members are held at certain distance apart parallel to each other I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1907. Serial No. 365,638.

Patented Jan; 24, 1911.

by means of bolts 6 and spacing collars 7. The magnets 1, 1 straddle the frame and bear against it as shown. To the side memher 4, on the outside of the frame, is secured a ledge 8. On the inside of the side member 4 is secured the fixed core-piece 2. This fixed core-piece does not extend quite to the side member 5 but suflicient space is left for the slide 9. This slide 9 has beveled edges which engage within a dovetailed slot 10 formed on the inner side of the side member 5 (see Fig. 3). This dovetailed slot 10 (-see Fig. at) serves as ways for supporting the slide 9 as the latter is slid from one end to the other end of the frame, as will be described. The movable core-piece 3 is in the form of a bolt with an enlarged head 11 and a circular shank, The fixed core-piece 2 is provided with a slot within which is located the shank of the movable core-piece 3. The enlarged head 11 extends beyond the end of the fixed core-piece 2, and is in close proximity to the slide 9. The coil 13 issupportcd upon the cylindrical face of the fixed core-piece 2. I

The movable core-piece 3 may have its position changed within the slot '12 of the fixed core-piece 2; this position in relation to the core-piece 2 enlarged head 11 extends beyond the end of the fixed'core-piece, the magnetic lines of force will be concentrated around the head. Any means may be used for shifting the position of the movable core. Forthe' purpose of illustration I have shown a lever 14 mounted upon a pivot 15 carried by the side member 4. This lever 14 is provided with an adjusting handle 16. 3y moving the handle 16 the lever 14 is caused to turn upon its pivot 1.5. The lower end of the lever 14 is forked and surrounds a reduced extension on the body of the nwvable corepiece 3 and is connected to it at that place. In order to securely retain the movable core in any desired position, its reduced portion is caused to pass through a slot in a fixed plate 17, this fixed plate 17 being carried by the ledge 8. The reduced portion of the movable core-piece is screw-tl'n'eaded and carries a winged nut 18. By screwing up the winged nut until it engages with the periphery or outer suris changed, and as the fixed plate 17, the movablecore-piece can be clamped between that plate and the outer end of the fixed core-piece 2 where. the enlarged head 11 engages with it.

The slide 9 is made of magnetic material, preferably iron or steel, and carries upon the face adjacent to the core-pieces Q and '7), an insert portion 19 of non-magnetic material so that the member will contain a magnetic break. This inset portion lltmay extend to any depth desired in the slide 9. The pref crable depth is about one-half the thickness of the slide, as shown in Fig. 3. The shape of the inset portion 19 is immaterial but the best results are secured by employing the shape shown in Fig. 5, in which the curved edges of the inset portion are about the same in diameter as the enlarged head 11 of the movable core-piece 3. Means is provided for longitudinally reciprocating the slide 9 so as to cause the inset portion 19 to periodically pass through the magnetic field and vary the path of the lines of force. This means, which may be of any desired description, I illustrate in Fig. 1, in connection with the engine 20. The means consists of a connecting rod 21 attached at one end to the slide 9, and at the other end to a crank disk 22 carried by the engine shaft. As the engine shaft is turned, the slide 9 will be reciprocated, as is obvious. By the movement of the slide, the path of the lines of force in the magnetic field will be varied by the passage of the non-magnetic inset portion 19, with the result that the number of magnetic lines threading through the turns of the coil 13 is varied, and a temporary current produced. The coil 13 is connected with the sparking devices of the engine in any manner, such as through wires 23. The sparking devices are shown at 2 It they are the ordinary jump spark sparking devices, and if a two-cylimjler engine is employed with two devices in mul tiple, as shown in Fig. l, a spark will be produced in each at each revolution of the crank shaft. here the invention is used in con' nection with a wipe sparking or hammer break device, such as shown in Fig. (3, the timing device should be so set that it will separate the contacts at the moment that the current sent through the coil 1 This will ordinarily be when the non-magnetic inset portion 19 directly opposite the enlarged head 11 of the movable core-piece 3.

As shown in l lo. t3, an ordinary and well known form of make and break mechanism is illustrated in which the contact: points 2-3 and 2b are arranged within the combustion chamber of the engine. ()1 these (ft).'ll:ltfl' points 25 is the movable one and it; the lixcd one. The movable contact point 25 is shown as actuated by means of a cam ilanounted upon a shaft to turn in synchronism with the engine shaft, the speed of rotation depending on the type of. the engine. cam plate '28 engages with the can] 27 and also with the rod 2%) which is connected to the lnovable contact point Q5. The cam 28 is controlled as to position by means of a lever til). i By moving the position of the lever 30 and with it the can'i-platt-i 28, movement of the contact point 25 in relation to the cam-shaft and driving shaft of the engine may be changed. In other words, the spark may be advanced or retarded as is well understood. The separation-of the contact points 25 and 26 should be arranged to occur in synchronism with the generation of current in the coil 13. As the period of generation of this current depends entirely upon thepo sition of the movable core-piece 3, the best results will be secured by simultaneously moving the levers 16 and 30. If they are connected together by a link 31 by moving one lever the other will be simultaneously moved. The proportions of the levers and the shape of the cam 28 should be such that as the time of generation of the spark is advanced or retarded, the time of the separation of the contact point 26 will be similarly ad anced or retarded.

The invention is particularly adaptable for use in connection with a make-and-break igniter inside of the combustion chamber, as the contact points, for instance the contact points and 26, are electrically connected for some period of time measured through the angular distance of the crank before they are separated. This closes the electric circuit through the coill3 and allows the current to build up within the circuit a material period of time before the current is interrupted.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but. I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that the invention can be carried out in other ways.

Having now particularly described the nature of my invention, and in what. manner the same is to he performed, what- 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .n igniter having a means for producing a magnetic field, such means including a core, a coil surrounding a portion of such field, means for periddically varying the path of the' magnetic lines of force and means for adjusting the position of the core to vary the time of current break, such means being movable independently of the coil.

.\n igniter having in combination with means for producing a n'iagnctic field, a coi :1 fixed core, a movaole core, a reciprocating member for periodically interrupting the path of the lines of force and means for moving the adiustable core for varying the time for reciprocating the slide, and means for of the interruptions. adjusting the position of the movable core. 10 3. An igniter which comprisesincombina- This specification signed and witnessed tion a frame, magnets surroundin the this 30th day of March, 1907.

fran1e,.a fixed core secured to the rame, HENRY W. AYLVVARD.

a movable eore within the fixed core, a coil Witnesses:

surrounding the fixed core and a slide havv LEoNARnH. DYER,

ing a non-magnetic portion therein, means JOHN L. Lo'rsorr. 

